NATIONAL VIDEO

Athlete of the Week: Flowery Branch's McKenzie Grewett

Senior setter sets pace

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Lindsey Miles, Jefferson: Went 2-3 with a home run and two RBIs against Oglethorpe County last week.

Ashley Neal, West Hall: Hit a home run, triple and had five RBIs against Rabun County on Thursday.

Savannah Snapp, Jefferson: Pitched a complete game victory and went 2 for 3 with two RBIs against North Oconee last week.

Volleyball

Brittany Campbell, East Hall: Had 24 assists, 14 digs, eight aces and two kills in a tri-match on Thursday.

Taylor Cramsey, Jefferson: Had 20 kills, nine aces, three blocks and two assists in a tri-match last Tuesday.

Jessica Falletta, Buford: Had 30 kills and 21 digs in matches last week.

Colleen Grider, Flowery Branch: Had 12 aces and nine kills as the Lady Falcons clinched the No. 1 seed from Area 8-AAAA.

Laykin Herford, West Hall: Had 42 assists in a tri-match last Tuesday.

Maggie Roper, Buford: Had 20 kills, 20 digs and six aces in matches last week.

The chance to capture the Area 8-AAAA’s North No. 1 seed came down to the last game of the season for the Flowery Branch volleyball team.

It was tied with Apalachee for the subregion lead, but because of a dominating 2-0 head-to-head victory over Apalachee earlier in the season, the pressure was on the Lady Falcons to secure the top spot in a match last week against Winder-Barrow.

And Kenzie Grewett continued to do what she has done all season: Set everyone else up to succeed. She came away with 25 assists on the night as Flowery Branch beat the Bulldoggs on the road.

For her efforts, Grewett has been selected as The Times Athlete of the Week.

After the stress of clinching the No. 1 seed, Flowery Branch volleyball coach Richard Godfrey let Grewett and her senior class take the role of assistant coaches in their second match against Winder-Barrow.

“I wanted to reward a class of great leaders,” Godfrey said, “And I had an opportunity to get the future of the program ready at the same time.”

The second-year coach of the Lady Falcons wanted his younger players to get a chance out on the court because, in tournament play, no one knows who will be called on to step up for the team.

The natural leader, who has been selected captain to every volleyball team on which she has played, said she has thought about coaching after she graduates from college but, for now, is concentrating on advancing to the state playoffs.

Grewett started the 2011 season much like a coach would, on the sidelines.

She missed the first seven games of the season due to illness, and it is apparent in their win-loss record alone that the Lady Falcons missed her athletic abilities.

“I still went to all of the practices and matches,” Grewett said. “I wasn’t about to give up on my girls like that.”Flowery Branch was 2-7 before the second-team all-area player could return to the court.

Since her return, the team has also lost seven matches. The difference is that the Lady Falcons have also collected 22 wins, including finishing the season 18-4 and dropping only five games in their wins for the final 22 matches.

Grewett will not take credit for being the difference-maker. Instead, she said the team has made all of the positive changes.

Godfrey said that Kenzie would be a key player for any team, and is the vocal leader for his squad.“She has been a great teacher and communicator before she ever got the chance to coach.” Godfrey said.